The Copwatch Reaction officer who was killed in a shoot-out with eight robbers in Centurion on Saturday afternoon will be honoured by the community in a flower-laying ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

The Copwatch team invited the community to “come and show their gratitude and respects to our fallen hero on Tuesday between 15:00 and 16:00 at Clubview SPAR”.

“We kindly request that only flowers be laid in his honour.”

Bertus Myburgh, operations manager of the private security company, said they were saddened to have lost Ronald Isaac Mokumo in the line of duty.

Further that Copwatch thanks the community for their heart-felt messages and love shown to Ronald’s family in this time.

“We received a message at around 16:44 on Saturday afternoon from a community group in Clubview informing us of a robbery which was taking place at the Clubview SPAR,” he said.

He said that Mokumo arrived at the SPAR only to be met with what have seemed like people peacefully shopping on an ordinary Saturday afternoon.

“Everything seemed normal,” Myburgh said; “clients were moving in and out of the store and nothing outside indicated that there was actually a robbery taking place”.

Myburgh said Mokumo then decided to go and investigate inside the SPAR.

“He went to the kiosk and enquired whether everything was okay and that was when the female teller indicated with her eyes that all was not well, namely that a robbery was busy taking place.”

Myburgh said according to their information that was when the shooting started.

“The robbers shot at my guy and this led to him taking cover while the suspects fled.”

He said Mokumo then ran out to give chase, but collapsed as he had been shot.

Myburgh expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the beloved officer.

Sergeant Divine Nkuna, spokesperson for Wierdabrug police, said a case of business robbery was opened and murder was added after it had been confirmed that the victim died.

“No suspects were arrested; a special police team is assisting in the investigation,” she said.

According to Myburgh, no funeral arrangements have been finalised yet.